Postdoc in Open-source model development for Advanced Digital Twins - DTU Construct

If you are establishing your career as a scientist within advanced digitalized manufacturing and you are looking for a multi-partner consortium driven project for further developing and applying your advanced skills, it is right here in front of you. 

At DTU Construct, Section of Manufacturing Engineering you will be at the forefront of developments in open-source tools for digitalization of manufacturing processes and products.   

Applications are now invited for a three-year Postdoc position, within the field of advanced digital twins, spanning competences in advanced multiphysics modelling (preferably, but not necessarily limited to, laser-based materials processing) and/or advanced data-driven reduced-order modelling and optimization. The postdoc position will involve digital twin development within two projects. The first is a Horizon Europe “DILAPRO” project (https://www.dilapro.eu/).  The second project is related to the Center for Robust Electronics Design “CRED” (https://celcorr.dtu.dk/cred-project). Both projects are anchored at the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark.

The overall DILAPRO project aims to contribute towards the twin Green and Digital Transitions within European manufacturing via the development of two ground-breaking software tools for laser-based production of complex products. The present postdoc position will directly contribute towards the establishment of one of these tools, namely DILAFACT (Digital LaserFactory) - which will be a sustainable and scalable platform for laser process planning via Digital Twins of laser-material interactions, including additive, subtractive, and thermal processes. 

The overall CRED project is dedicated to addressing the corrosion reliability and robustness requirements of high voltage electronics today. The present postdoc position will directly contribute towards this through open-source multiphysics software development for diffusion and convection problems, while collaborating with the various associated experiments focused PhD and postdoc projects within CRED.

More specifically, the positions will overall look towards connecting different advanced software tools (of multi-physics and data-based models) within a modular framework that allows digital twin driven optimization. The positions will consequently also focus on extraction of reduced order models using Gaussian Process modelling and/or Polynomial Chaos Expansion methods and deploying them in within the digital twins of the two projects.

Responsibilities and qualifications
You will be responsible for the development of workflow tools supporting the digital twin development toolbox. The focus of the positions will be to validate advanced, calibrated multi-physics computational models already available at DTU, migrating them into open-source formats, and subsequently extracting robust, fast reduced order models implementable on digital infrastructure (e.g. cloud computing). 

The work will involve active engagement with various consortium partners in a fast-paced R&D process, as well as encompass extensive dissemination activities (at conferences and seminars). You will work on digital twin development of three production lines spread over Europe as well as a research AM production line in Denmark. You will further work with the pioneering group on electronics corrosion reliability within Europe, establishing the core modelling and digital twin capabilities. Further, you are expected to collaborate extensively with the current teams working on DILAPRO & CRED at DTU as well as other colleagues within the Section. 

In addition to the direct project related research, you will have the opportunity to disseminate your research through publication of papers and presentations in international conferences.

We envision that:

• You have an open mind and can think creatively in a computational and/or programming context.
• You are interested in combining your physics-based modelling skills with data-driven analysis (or vice versa).
• You are eager to elaborate on the newest research results, improve the ideas and test them by implementation.

Demonstrated competence in programming with Python and working on Linux based platform is essential for this position. Further, prior experience within at least three of the following fields/aspects is required for these positions:

• computational optics and/or computational fluid dynamics, 
• computational heat transfer and/or computational thermo-mechanics, 
• Implementation of statistical methods for reduced order process model generation (experience with Gaussian process models and/or Polynomial Chaos Expansion is desirable).
• Developing APIs and automated workflows for connecting numerical simulations with machine learning models on cloud-computing infrastructure.
• Algorithm driven optimization (e.g. gradient-based methods, evolutionary algorithms, etc) and/or inverse modelling techniques
• Uncertainty quantification and/or stochastic modelling techniques.

As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent). 

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility. 

Salary and terms of employment
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The period of employment is 3 years. Employment as soon as possible according to mutual agreement.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here. 

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Sankhya Mohanty, samoh@dtu.dk. 

You can read more about Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at www.construct.dtu.dk. 

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.  

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 1 June 2025 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English)
• List of publications 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

DTU Civil and Mechanical Engineering develops and utilizes science and technical knowledge for the benefit of society and sustainable development. We undertake research, education, innovation, and scientific advice of the highest quality within building design and processes, building construction and safety, building energy and installation, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, materials technology, manufacturing engineering, engineering design and thermal energy systems. 

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.